CHAPTER 136
"I have a request," Alan said suddenly.
Arianna was taken aback. "What is it?" she asked, curious and slightly apprehensive.
“You don’t have to thank me anymore. Do you know how many times you’ve said ‘thank you’ in just one day?” Alan asked with a playful tone.
“My ears are practically growing calluses from hearing it so much.”
Before Arianna could respond, he continued, “Besides being your doctor once, we’re friends, aren’t we?”
He felt that constant thanks made their friendship seem too formal and distant.
Arianna's dark eyes widened in surprise at his words. Once she recovered, she smiled and blinked playfully.
“I guess I got lucky then,” she teased, feeling a warmth spread through her at the reminder of their friendship.
Although Alan claimed to be the Saint’s assistant, it was clear that not just anyone could hold such a position. Even if he seemed ordinary now, it was likely he would become someone extraordinary in the future.
Alan found her reaction endearing and couldn't resist softly patting her head. There was a subtle hint of affection in his voice as he said,
"I’ll allow it."
His words brought Arianna back to her time abroad. After they had become friends, Alan, aware of her financial struggles, often refrained from prescribing costly medicines for her injuries. Instead, he would simply give her what she needed, showing his care and generosity.
Since he was a doctor, Alan always had an abundance of medications at home. To frame it positively, he would say he was giving them to her because she needed them, thus preventing the meds from going to waste when they expired.
Back then, whenever he handed her the medicine, she would remark, “I guess I got lucky, huh.”
And Alan would always respond with a gentle smile, “I’ll allow it.”
Of course, Arianna never felt comfortable just taking the medicine without giving anything in return. She insisted on paying, but Alan would only charge her the cost price, never a penny more.
Recalling those moments brought a soft, nostalgic smile to her face. Her eyebrows arched delicately, and she beamed brightly.
"You've always had such a kind heart, Dr. Woods."
Alan looked down at her, appreciating how her smile transformed her entire demeanour. At that moment, he thought Arianna was truly in her element when she smiled like that, a picture of warmth and light.
"It’s getting late. You should go back and rest," Arianna urged softly, not wanting to take up any more of Alan’s time.
“Alright. Ring me up if there’s anything you need,” Alan replied.
Alan bent down and got back into the taxi. He rolled down the window and waved to Arianna, who was still standing there.
“Good night.”
Arianna waved back. “Good night, Dr. Woods.”
She watched as the taxi drove away, fading into the distance. Once it was out of sight, she turned and began walking toward the hospital entrance.
Just as she started moving, a sudden burst of blinding headlights illuminated the area in front of her. The light was so intense that it stung her eyes, causing her to squint and instinctively raise her hand to shield her face.
Moments later, a black car roared toward her, the engine’s growl echoing ominously. The vehicle was speeding so quickly and so abruptly that Arianna had no time to react. She could only stand frozen, watching in horror as the car hurtled closer.
Her eyes widened in terror when she recognized the blurry outline of Xander's face behind the wheel. Panic surged through her veins.
Was it him? Did Xander want to kill her?
Just when she braced herself for the inevitable impact, the car's tyres screeched violently against the tarmac, the deafening sound piercing her eardrums.
The car came to a sudden halt, stopping just 0.01 millimetres from her trembling body. She stood there, heart pounding, the realization of how close she had come to disaster slowly sinking in.
Arianna couldn't help but gasp for breath. Her eyes were wide with a profound sense of terror, and although she wanted to open her mouth and berate Xander, she found herself momentarily speechless.
Another loud bang shattered the tense silence as Xander slammed the car door shut. He strode up to her with a determined expression, his eyes dark and unreadable.
Without uttering a word, he reached out and grabbed her wrist with a grip so strong that she winced in pain. He dragged her forcefully to the front passenger seat, leaving her no room to resist.
The car door was yanked open, and with a ruthless shove, he pushed her inside. Before she could gather her bearings, he tugged the seatbelt and secured her tightly in place.
His strength was overwhelming, and Arianna had no time to struggle or escape. In a matter of seconds, Xander was back in the driver’s seat. He stepped on the accelerator with a ferocious intensity, and the car sped off into the night, leaving Arianna trapped and at his mercy.
